516 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornithology of [Ibis, 



this nature invariably attracts the Carancho and the Black- 

 backed Gull in preference to that of a cow or sheep) ; a 

 score or two small gobbets of meat are detached, pierced, 

 and some crystals of stryclmine inserted, and these are 

 scattered on or about the carcase — it being the case that the 

 quarry will bolt these convenient morsels witiiout suspicion, 

 but is shy of any obvious poisoning of the main dish 

 itself. Personally, I do not like the last-named method, as, 

 in addition to a dozen Caranchos dead round such a " kill," 

 I have seen quite a holocaust of Gulls (of various species), 

 Chimangos, Bienteveos, etc., against which there was no 

 grudge ; and it was but too obvious their death had not 

 been a peaceful one. However, to return to my opening 

 statement : A gathering of half-a-dozen or upwards is no 

 longer frequent iu our district, and I would not think of 

 going out on a moonlight night as of yore with chalked gun- 

 sights, to shoot them in the outlying woods of the head- 

 station, where they formerly roosted in abundance. 



I had thought to have exhausted all there was to be said 

 about the species and its habits in my former paper, but 

 Mr. Hudson has infinitely improved upon my notes with a 

 fuller description and a wealth of details and anecdotes. 

 To the latter I have but one or two to add, culled from my 

 diary. On one occasion, I saw " a pair following an Oven- 

 bird in the open, which was ultimately seized on the wing 

 before it could gain the adjacent woods, and carried off." 

 My experience regarding its raptorial habits is so dissimilar 

 to that of Mr. Hudson that I was much impressed with the 

 occurrence. Claude Grant also confirms my opinion — 

 '^neversawit take living prey."' Another entry, referring 

 to " no less than sixteen Caranchos trying to make a square 

 meal off one Waterhen,"' is indicative of short commons. 



of the former is of less commercial value than the latter, which may be 

 admitted ; on the other hand, tlie horns of the cow cause au extra 

 tiouble iu .skinniuy, which does not arise in the case ol the liorse. But 

 why always subsequently separate the head of the nobler animal, and 

 leave that of the other in situ? The Gauchos themselves, on being- 

 interrogated, have no other reply than tliat of *' We have always 

 been accustomed to do so." 



